The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne mulled it over for a second, then said, "Well, it's not exactly like that. My mentor was the kind who'd perk up at the sight of a dollar bill, and now, I'm all about the cash, too. So, I need you to ink a new deal, Vance. You know my Mr. Wolf's unemployed at the moment, and I've got a household to run."

With that, she whipped out a fresh contract and laid it before Vance, the figures in it a whopping fifty percent higher than the previous one.

Without a moment's hesitation, Vance scribbled his signature on the dotted line.

Money was no object when it came to this lifesaving contract.

After closing the contract, Vance's expression regained its composure. "So, is this the reason Jasper called me over today?"

Jasper shook his head. "Of course not. This is a matter my granddaughter brought to you. As for me, I've got another issue to discuss."

Vance straightened up. "What's on your mind?"

"The ancient warrior lineage."

Vance's eyes flickered with disbelief.

Jasper himself hailed from the ancient warrior lineage, and the Perez family held a lofty position within the Vanguard Agency. It was surprising he would broach the topic with Vance, knowing full well that Vance had always wanted to kick the ancient warrior lineage out of the Agency.

"Surprised, huh?" Jasper chuckled. "I know you've got a bone to pick with the ancient warrior lineage, feeling that us old-timers are flexing our family muscles, stifling your special squad's operations, and botching many a mission."

Vance frowned, his gaze drifting over to Percival and Vivienne.

Great, those two were at it again, playing house.

One sipping coffee, the other pouring - living the life of Riley.

Vance had to drag his attention back. "Jasper, just lay your cards on the table."

handed Vance a freshly brewed cup of coffee. "Vance, Jasper here wants a slice of our partnership pie. What do

ancient warrior lineage out of the Vanguard Agency. What exactly is the

to push them out. Over time, their influence has grown massive, almost monopolizing power, to the point where even the Perez and Martinez families sometimes

merely vengeful. "You

quietly, unsure where he

what happened with Noah,

managed to hide a mole in the Vanguard Agency for nearly

radar in the Agency for six decades without anyone catching on? Like those ten children back

others on that

difference

in the Vanguard Agency was a fool. Without inside help, even with GTO cutting off its own tentacles to let Noah gain merit, his stay would not have been

even Yorick never suspected his partner

warrior lineage to seize power all these years without

It dawned on Vance.

have been pulling strings

GTO's mole, could it mean that someone within

and Vance could not

he was being hunted, and those hunters were

lowered. "You're right. When I first tried to locate the Emerald Monastery, I sensed someone

years that Ulysses had not perished when his family was wiped out but had gone into

had been investigating discreetly, using his position within the Vanguard Agency to

discover that someone was after Finnian's life. Knowing he was no match for these mysterious assailants with his current abilities, he

had succumbed

on, no word